Fennel

[Baby_Sham]

I've not had fennel before but would like to include it in my diet, as much as possible.

Can I have some ideas please as to what to have it with, how to cook it?

[mccfluff]

its makes you more "up for it"

[woofgang]

a bunch of botox there McFluff.....

[mccfluff]

i don;t know, that's what the article suggests, why don;t you give it a go and report back...

[Baby_Sham]

Was that to me or woofgang? Do you want me to report back on whether or not it makes me more "up for it", or more desirable, or gives me flatulence?

[tonyav]

Baby_Sham, just to make sure have fennel and oysters !.

[Baby_Sham]

Haha double my chances eh!

[tonyav]

Well one of them has got to work, maybe both lol.

[jim360]

There are certainly worse things you can take for medicinal purposes than fennel. I'd say go for it, and enjoy a cup of fennel tea, or fennel in salad, or any of these recipes:

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/fennel

[Baby_Sham]

Thanks Jim. I had no idea it had *so* many benefits, but will certainly give it a go for my "IBS" symptoms.

[jim360]

A lot of those benefits are claimed, but not proven. Some do seem to be genuine, and as far as I can tell, though, most aren't disproved either. Since there are no real risks of eating it, you may as well enjoy a tasty herb. So enjoy!

[dmbhunt]

Good with other roast veg, cut fairly small add to mushrooms, peppers, courgettes, onion, cherry tomatoes drizzle with olive oil cook low in oven in open dish, stir from time to time to distribute juices. Needs a good 1 hr 15 mins maybe 1 hr 30 mins. Yummy with any roast meat and roast pots and reheats well too.

[woofgang]

Baby Sham the remark was directed ar McFluff's long list of things that fennel is said to help with.

[pastafreak]

I would try the fennel tea first-to see if you like the flavour-before you jump into growing it.

[Baby_Sham]

Update on the fennel: Well, I got some tea, and it's really really nice.
I must have had it before, because the taste is very familiar - although maybe it just reminds me of something else..? Anyway, it's lovely.

[ummmm]

Aniseed :-)

[Baby_Sham]

I kept wondering where I've tasted it before, like what that flavour is in that I've had a fair few times. I was thinking curry, but not sure.

[ummmm]

Liquorice allsorts...

[Sand3124]

If you find a good asuan foodstire you can usually get beatiful fresh fennel at a fraction of major supermarket prices.

[Sand3124]

You can braise it gently on its own or you can add it to casseroles. I also use it in soups - it goes great with either carrots or peas.